THE DIVINE COMEDY + BARBARA – Charmed Life, Live review

There’s a huge and diverse back catalogue to explore in this tour to promote Charmed life – the Best of the Divine Comedy, released in February this year. 

How they chose the 23 songs for the ‘Best of’ out of the 30 years’ worth of music is an interesting question. The album starts with National Express – containing the best line in any song ever (fact!): “But it’s hard to get by when your arse is the size of a small country”; a song that’s often a backdrop to this reviewer’s 5k runs (but enough insight into my anatomy!). 

This gig was my first live music gig of the year, and I was excited to be back at the Dome. It’s a fantastic venue where I’ve seen many wonderful acts and I had no doubt that the Divine Comedy would be another. It was a sold-out gig and the crowd seemed really up for a fun night out. 

The crowd, as expected, is made up of mostly middle-aged, life-long fans but there was a healthy smattering of younger fans to balance out talk of mortgages and babysitters (overheard in the line to the bar). A slightly older crowd at gigs usually indicates a livelier atmosphere and more movement in my experience and despite the all-seater venue, that was the case here. 

The support band, Barbara, from Brighton, came on to a half-full room but that didn’t stop them from playing the crowd and getting them on side. I have to admit I hadn’t heard of Barbara before tonight, but I’ve already signed up to their site and will be seeing them again soon in Brighton. 

The band (including brothers Henry and John Tydeman) relished every second of their time on stage and with dapper, Jarvis-Esque aplomb got us all on side. 

I really enjoyed the breezy, fuzzy, California via mid-90s Britpop (think Suede/Pulp) with a bit of glam-rock thrown in sound and they got the crowd clapping and cheering – the home advantage played off big time. Stand out song for me was ‘Rainy days in June’. See you at the Albert at the end of the month! 

The atmosphere started to build as the sold-out crowd cheered The Divine Comedy on stage to the sound of ‘Absent Friends’ – a poignant reminder of what we’ve all been through.  

Neil’s voice was clear and strong and you could see that he and the crowd were old friends. Just like all friendships, there can be moments where you fall out and at times Neil seemed to be a little bit dry with his ‘friends’, reminding them this wasn't a request show, but they loved it and it was all part of the atmosphere. 

For the full setlist see below, but the stand out songs for the crowd were ‘Everybody knows (Except you)’. Neil sang ‘Everybody knows I adore you and the crowd nodded vigorously in agreement.  

Neil told us they’d been to see Blondie the night before and he and the band channelled Debbie & co for ‘Bad Ambassador’.  

During ‘Generation Sex’ a few people gamely stand up for a boogie but then when the opening chords of ‘Something for the weekend’ come on the whole crowd is up on their feet and dancing like crazy – a riotous, fun singalong before the intermission. Time for a well-earned drink, a mojito if Neil’s recommendation is anything to go by.  

Part 2 and it felt as though everyone was up for an even bigger night, Neil and the band included (I’m not saying the mojitos had an impact here…). 

They started with ‘A lady of a certain age’ and followed with ‘Assume the perpendicular’ and on to ‘Songs of love’ with the fantastic Ian Watson on the accordion. Next up is a song dedicated to Andrew Skeet who’d been unfortunately abused earlier in the day by a Brighton seagull (who hasn’t?). 

On to more favourites – ‘Norma and Norman’, the strange tale of a middle-aged couple’s marriage, standing out for me. 

Then the crowd were up again for an ‘Irish folk tune’ (in Neil’s words), aka ‘Gin Soaked Boy’. 

By this time the Patient 11 photographer (Xavier, XC Photography UK) was in some pain, the downside of being a chronic pain sufferer and the reason for this site. 

We had to admit defeat at the final song but I’m pretty sure I heard ‘National Express’ starting as we were leaving.  

I’ve no doubt we’ll be seeing the band again though as they didn’t disappoint – a very welcome return to gigging for me.